Bioelectrical-Impedance-Analysis in the Perioperative Nutritional Assessment and Prediction of Complications in Head-and-Neck Malignancies.

Objective: Identification of patients with head-and-neck malignancies who are especially vulnerable to malnutrition is critical for optimizing outcomes. The objectives are; to correlate Bioelectrical-impendence-analysis (BIA) parameters with Subjective-Global-Assessment (SGA) scores, and determine the association of BIA parameters with common perioperative complications in patients undergoing head-and-neck surgery.

Study Design: Patients underwent formal SGA scoring and BIA preoperatively in a multidisciplinary allied health clinic.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an app and rewards-based intervention in type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial.

Aim: Digital health interventions and economic incentives have shown promise in facilitating diabetes self-management, though evidence is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive app-based diabetes self-management programme with rewards for healthy behaviours and health outcomes.

Materials And Methods: The TRIal to slow the Progression Of Diabetes (TRIPOD) study was an open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial conducted at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.

Asthma prescribing trends, inhaler adherence and outcomes: a Real-World Data analysis of a multi-ethnic Asian Asthma population.

Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is the mainstay therapy for asthma, but general adherence is low. There is a paucity of real-world inhaler prescribing and adherence data from Asia and at the population level. To address these gaps, we performed a real-world data analysis of inhaler prescribing pattern and adherence in a multi-ethnic Asian asthma cohort and evaluated the association with asthma outcomes.

Association of quality-of-care indicators with asthma outcomes: A retrospective observational study for asthma care in Singapore.

Introduction: Asthma guidelines have advocated for the use of quality-of-care indicators (QCIs) in asthma management. To improve asthma care, it is important to identify effective QCIs that are actionable. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the presence of 3 QCIs: asthma education, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and spirometry testing on the time to severe exacerbation (TTSE).

Glycine Synthesis Is Reduced in Adults With Morbid Obesity and Increases Following Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Glycine is a dietary non-essential amino acid that is low in obesity and increases following bariatric surgery. However, the exact mechanism responsible remains unclear and it is unknown whether hypoglycinemia is a cause or consequence of insulin resistance.

Objective: Using multiple isotopically labeled tracers, we aimed to determine the underlying kinetic changes responsible for hypoglycinemia in obesity by: 1) Comparing glycine kinetics between participants with morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 32.

Assessment of the validity and reliability of the Vietnamese version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cultural adaptability and psychometric properties of the Vietnamese version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ).

Methods: A total of 253 women aged 18 years and older with no history of breast cancer was included in the analysis.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit for the hypothesized three-factor structure of the original version of the BCSBQ.

The Role of Education in Breast Cancer Beliefs and Screening Practices Among Korean Women - A quantitative study.

Introduction: Cultural beliefs are influential factors that affect breast cancer screening practices among Korean women. The aim of this study was to examine the role of educational levels and compare the cultural beliefs associated with breast cancer screening practices among immigrant Korean women in Australia with those of their counterparts in Korea.

Methods: A secondary analysis based on data from convenience samples of 245 and 249 Korean women living in Australia and Korea, respectively.

Development of a short form of the Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale - Dementia: SCQOLS-D-15.

Purpose: The Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale - Dementia (SCQOLS-D), developed based on the Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale (SCQOLS), comprises 5 domains and 63 items. It has been shown to be a valid and reliable measurement scale. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a short form of the SCQOLS-D.

NEURoaid II (MLC901) in cognitively Impaired not demenTEd patientS (NEURITES): A pilot double blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of MLC901 in vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND) patients.

Design: This was a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Setting And Participant: VCIND patients from hospitals in Singapore (67), Vietnam (19), and the Philippines (17) were recruited and followed-up from March 2013 to April 2018.

Reference values for the short forms of the Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale.

Purpose: The 15- and 10-item short forms of the Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale (SCQOLS-15 and SCQOLS-10) were recently developed as a quick assessment of caregiver quality of life. Reference values describing the distribution of the total and domain scores are available for the full-length version, but they are not yet available for the short forms. This study aimed to estimate the reference values for the short forms.

Breast Cancer Perceptions and Screening Behaviours Among Korean Women in Australia.

Little is known about breast cancer screening behaviours among immigrant-Korean women in Australia. This study reported breast cancer screening status and whether demographic factors and cultural beliefs associated with their screening behaviours. A convenience sample of 258 Korean-Australian women completed the Korean version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire.

Effect of Combined Treatment with MLC601 (NeuroAiDTM) and Rehabilitation on Post-Stroke Recovery: The CHIMES and CHIMES-E Studies.

Background And Purpose: MLC601 has been shown in preclinical studies to enhance neurorestorative mechanisms after stroke. The aim of this post hoc analysis was to assess whether combining MLC601 and rehabilitation has an effect on improving functional outcomes after stroke.

Methods: Data from the CHInese Medicine NeuroAiD Efficacy on Stroke (CHIMES) and CHIMES-Extension (CHIMES-E) studies were analyzed.

Development of Conversion Functions Mapping the FACT-B Total Score to the EQ-5D-5L Utility Value by Three Linking Methods and Comparison with the Ordinary Least Square Method.

Introduction: Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) measures are commonly mapped to a value that represents a utility for economic evaluation via regression models, which may lead to shrinkage of the variance.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and compare conversion functions that map the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) total score to the EuroQoL 5-Dimensions, 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) utility value via four methods.

Methods: We used the HRQoL scores of 238 Singapore patients with breast cancer to develop the conversion function for the equipercentile, linear equating, mean rank and ordinary least squares (OLS) methods.

Breast cancer screening behaviors among Chinese women in Mainland China.

In the present study, we reported on the current breast cancer screening rates among Chinese women in China and examined whether demographic factors and cultural beliefs were associated with their screening behavior. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 494 Chinese women who completed the modified Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ). Two-sample t-tests and multivariable logistic regression were employed to analyze the data.

Impact of antibiotic stewardship programmes in Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The use of antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) is increasing in Asia, but their effectiveness in reducing antibiotic consumption and their impact on clinical outcomes is not known.

Objectives: To determine the impact of ASPs conducted in Asia on the consumption of antibiotics and on patients' clinical outcomes.

Methods: We systematically searched the Embase and Medline (PubMed) databases for studies that compared antibiotic consumption or clinical outcomes of patients in an Asian hospital or clinic with an ASP (intervention) with those in a similar setting without an ASP (control).

Epidemiology of Reemerging Scarlet Fever, Hong Kong, 2005-2015.

Annual incidence of scarlet fever in Hong Kong remained elevated after an upsurge in 2011. Incidence increased from 3.3/10,000 children <5 years of age during 2005-2010 to 18.

Psychometric properties of the Modified Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire among Mainland Chinese women.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to report the psychometric properties of the modified 'Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire' (BCSBQ) among women living in China.

Methods: A convenience sample of 494 women was recruited from community centres and out-patient clinics in Foshan city. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency reliability.

Prognostic Factors and Pattern of Long-Term Recovery with MLC601 (NeuroAiD™) in the Chinese Medicine NeuroAiD Efficacy on Stroke Recovery - Extension Study.

Background: The Chinese Medicine NeuroAiD Efficacy on Stroke recovery - Extension (CHIMES-E) study is among the few acute stroke trials with long-term outcome data. We aimed to evaluate the recovery pattern and the influence of prognostic factors on treatment effect of MLC601 over 2 years.

Methods: The CHIMES-E study evaluated the 2 years outcome of subjects aged ≥18 years with acute ischemic stroke, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 6-14, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤1 included in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MLC601 for 3 months.

Sex and the treatment effect in the Chinese Medicine NeuroAiD Efficacy on Stroke recovery (CHIMES) trial.

In the randomized controlled trial of NeuroAiD versus placebo following ischemic stroke, there was a trend for sex influencing the treatment effect of NeuroAiD in improving functional outcome following ischemic stroke (p=0.075).

Validation of the Korean Version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire.

Background: Korean immigrant women have been consistently reported as having low participation in breast cancer screening practices. A valid and reliable instrument to explore factors that affect their cancer screening behaviors is essential.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ).

Validation of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire among African Australian women.

Background: The Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ) has been designed as a culturally appropriate instrument for assessing women's beliefs, knowledge and attitudes to breast cancer and breast cancer screening practices. While it has proved to be a reliable instrument when applied to women of Chinese, Arabic and Korean origin living in Australia, its psychometric properties among women from African backgrounds have not been tested. The aim of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the BCSBQ among African Australian women.

Cultural Beliefs and Attitudes About Breast Cancer and Screening Practices Among Arabic Women in Australia.

Background: Arabic women have been consistently reported as having remarkably low participation rates in breast cancer screening measures in their home countries and after migration to Western countries. Little is known about the screening behaviors of Arabic women in Australia.

Objectives: This study aimed to report breast cancer screening practices among Arabic women in Australia and to examine the relationship between (1) demographic factors and (2) the Arabic version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ) score and women's breast screening behaviors.

Comparison Between the Original and Shortened Versions of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in Ischemic Stroke Patients of Intermediate Severity.

Background And Purpose: The 15-item National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) has been critiqued for its complexity and variability, and shortened versions have been proposed. This study aimed to compare the measurement properties of the original version with 3 shortened versions with 11, 8, and 5 items, respectively.

Methods: Analyses were performed using data from an international, double-blind randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of MLC601 on stroke recovery in patients with ischemic stroke of intermediate severity (Chinese Medicine Neuroaid Efficacy on Stroke recovery [CHIMES]).